Writers: Lewis Evans and Amy Fielding
Directors: The cast and Johnny Carrington
London is, of course, renowned for its world-famous West End theatre but it’s often above pubs where some of the most creatively ambitious works can be found. In a world saturated with copious recreational options, theatre must find a way to stand out from the crowd and offer something innovative and memorable. Box House Theatre’s Twisted Tales succeeds admirably in doing just that.
A cast of six regale us with four folk tales which all end with a twist. There is, however, another twist. The actors are restricted to performing the entire production on a gym mat. Innovative? Tick. There are no props, costumes, sound or set. It is therefore up to the cast to conjure up vivid scenes and tell stories using only their bodies and voices.
Through inventive and impeccably timed movement we are taken through the forest as Little Red Riding Hood goes to visit her grandmother. Writer and performer Lewis Evans somehow manages to make his wolf both humorous and disturbing. We plummet down the rabbit hole and are gifted a memorable Cheshire Cat, courtesy of Lee Taylor, and we witness bloodshed at the battle of Wessex. All in 50 minutes.
While some might argue the pace dips slightly on occasion, for the most part the audience are kept engaged and on their toes. There is always someone to focus on before our attention is jolted elsewhere. Character work is by no means sacrificed in favour of style and aesthetic here. Tight transitions, effective soundscapes and strong singing vocals complement carefully considered choreography. The cast is cohesive and on point with scenes shifting seamlessly. There are a good number of laughs to be had too.
Although written by Evans and fellow performer Amy Fielding (master of facial expressions), the entire cast directs, alongside Johnny Carrington. While they work incredibly well when unified, what’s nice here is that everyone has the chance to showcase their skills. Eve Ibbott, Sohail Al Mahri and Ross Hobby all deliver equally refined performances.
The production might only have a short run at The Lion and Unicorn, but it deserves to be seen elsewhere. Twisted Tales serves as an excellent example of the type of boundary pushing theatre that is out there if you know where to look.
Runs until 24 July 2022
The Reviews Hub Score
Impressively inventive
